Meat, poultry: Put anywhere inside the fridge except the door, unless your deli bin has a temperature control. If so, set it on the coldest level and stash items there.

Fruit: Stick these in a drawer, separate from vegetables. Got a humidity-control vent? Keep it partly open  moisture speeds up spoiling.

Vegetables: These go in the crisper. If you have a humidity-control vent, close it. That way, damp air will be trapped inside and your veggies will absorb moisture, which helps them stay fresh longer.

Milk, eggs, yogurt: Put anyplace but the door  the temp there can get too warm (sour city).

Butter: Store in the door because it's warmer  your butter will spread more smoothly.

The best temperature to...

Prevent spoiling: Set the main section of the fridge to 37 degrees  and consider 40 and above a danger zone. The freezer should stay at zero or a little lower.

The best way to avoid...

Freezer burn: Your mission: Keep air away from food. Freezer bags will help, and they'll also prevent odors from circulating in your fridge. When using storage containers, fill them almost to the top  that will protect leftovers from burn while giving food enough room to expand.

Best cleaning tips:

Dust the condenser coils. These dust bunny destinations need cleaning every couple of months (more often if you have pets). Unplug the unit, snap off the grate, then use a coil-cleaning brush (at hardware stores) or your vacuum's crevice tool.

Use warm, soapy water. That and a sponge are all you need to clean inside. Household cleansing sprays can harm plastic parts.